Difference between revisions of "Charles Etienne Boniface"
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| − | [[Charles Etienne Boniface]] (1787 – 1853) was an enormously talented, intelligent and abrasive dramatist, actor, theatre director, dancing instructor, linguist, language teacher, fencing teacher, composer and guitarist, music teacher. | + | [[Charles Etienne Boniface]] (1787 – 1853) was an enormously talented, intelligent and abrasive dramatist, actor, theatre director, dancing instructor, linguist, language teacher, fencing teacher, composer and guitarist, music teacher. ([[F.C.L. Bosman]] has his dates as 1788-1854 on p. 54 of his 1928 book.) |
Often referred to as [[C.E. Boniface]] or simply as [[Boniface]]. Over the years he also worked under a number of pseudonyms, especially for his more polemical writing or his efforts at publicity and self-promotion. These include: [["Vyfstar of Wraak"]] *** and (possibly) [["Clavigo"]]. | Often referred to as [[C.E. Boniface]] or simply as [[Boniface]]. Over the years he also worked under a number of pseudonyms, especially for his more polemical writing or his efforts at publicity and self-promotion. These include: [["Vyfstar of Wraak"]] *** and (possibly) [["Clavigo"]]. | ||
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In 1798 Sir Sidney Smith, who had apparently been helped by Boniface's father to escape French imprisonment, assisted the Boniface family to resettle in the Seychelles, where Boniface enrolled in as a cadet in the Royal Navy. When the Cape Colony was annexed once more by the British, Boniface made his way to Cape Town via Mozambique on board a Portuguese slave ship, arriving on 10 February 1806. | In 1798 Sir Sidney Smith, who had apparently been helped by Boniface's father to escape French imprisonment, assisted the Boniface family to resettle in the Seychelles, where Boniface enrolled in as a cadet in the Royal Navy. When the Cape Colony was annexed once more by the British, Boniface made his way to Cape Town via Mozambique on board a Portuguese slave ship, arriving on 10 February 1806. | ||
| − | In the period 1807 to 1840 he lived and worked in Cape Town, where - due to his amazing aptitude for languages - he managed to learn enough German, [[Dutch]] and English to work as a language and music teacher. He was the first person in the Cape Colony known to have noted down the local music. He would also play an enormous role in the development of journalism, theatre, and [[Dutch]] and [[Afrikaans]] theatre in particular, in Cape Town. Another key element in his make-up was the dangerous combination of a satiric bent and quick and unforgiving temper, which led to his | + | In the period 1807 to 1840 he lived and worked in Cape Town, where - due to his amazing aptitude for languages - he managed to learn enough German, [[Dutch]] and English to work as a language and music teacher. He was the first person in the Cape Colony known to have noted down the local music. He would also play an enormous role in the development of journalism, theatre, and [[Dutch]] and [[Afrikaans]] theatre in particular, in Cape Town. Another key element in his make-up was the dangerous combination of a satiric bent and quick and unforgiving temper, which led to his uncompromising and vicious feuds with a number of Capetonians, most notably with his former friend and colleague [[J. Suasso de Lima]]. |
In 1844 he fled to Pietermaritzburg, to help start the first newspaper in Natal ([[De Natalier]]) and practise as an advocate at law, although it is not known of he was involved in theatre whilst resident there. | In 1844 he fled to Pietermaritzburg, to help start the first newspaper in Natal ([[De Natalier]]) and practise as an advocate at law, although it is not known of he was involved in theatre whilst resident there. | ||
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== His contribution to South African theatre and performance == | == His contribution to South African theatre and performance == | ||
| − | While in Cape Town he founded a [[French Theatre Company]] and then became a leading figure in the French/Dutch company [[Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense]]. Besides being a fiery journalist, who was the first writer to use [[Afrikaans]] for journalistic purposes when he co-founded and edited [[De Zuid-Afrikaan]] in 1830, he also translated and wrote a number of plays in [[Dutch]], [[Afrikaans]] and even [[English]], many which he | + | While in Cape Town he founded a [[French Theatre Company]] and then became a leading figure in the French/Dutch company [[Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense]]. Besides being a fiery journalist, who was the first writer to use [[Afrikaans]] for journalistic purposes when he co-founded and edited ''[[De Zuid-Afrikaan]]'' in Cape Town in 1830 and co-founded and was the first editor of ''[[De Natalier]]'' in Durban in 1844, he also translated and wrote a number of plays in [[Dutch]], [[Afrikaans]] and even [[English]], many which he also produced. He was of a temperamental and somewhat choleric nature, and [[F.C.L. Bosman]] (1928, p. 118) claims that he was the first to really make the Cape theatre a cite for political, social and personal vendettas. For a while his feud with De Lima played a cardinal role in firing up his satiric imagination in poetry, journalism and drama, while his societal targets included the many fanatical philanthropic movements of the time. |
| − | He produced a number of | + | He produced a number of "firsts", including the first ballet in South Africa (''[[Sappho]]''), which was staged in the Cape, the first South African play in English: '' [[Kockincoz, or The Pettifogging Lawyer's Plot]]'' (1843) and ''[[De Nieuwe Ridderorde of De Temperantisten]]'' (also known simply as ''[[De Nieuwe Ridderorde]]'' or ''[[De Temperantisten]]'' - 1832), said to be the first play in [[Afrikaans]]-[[Dutch]] and possibly his best work. |
Other works include poetry and the plays ''[[The Blamed Reputation]]'', ''[[Het beleg en het nemen van Troyen]]'', ''[[l’Enragé]]'', ''[[Clasius stupidibus bavianus of Het proces om een komedielootjie]]'' (or simply ''[[Clasius]]'' -1834), the stories ''Bluettes franco-nataliennes'' and ''Le Latanier''. He also translated and reworked plays by others, including ''[[Robert, Chef de Brigands]]'' , ''[['Dago]]'' (a ballet in 3 acts, 1819), ''[[De Burger Edelman]]'' (from Moliere), ) | Other works include poetry and the plays ''[[The Blamed Reputation]]'', ''[[Het beleg en het nemen van Troyen]]'', ''[[l’Enragé]]'', ''[[Clasius stupidibus bavianus of Het proces om een komedielootjie]]'' (or simply ''[[Clasius]]'' -1834), the stories ''Bluettes franco-nataliennes'' and ''Le Latanier''. He also translated and reworked plays by others, including ''[[Robert, Chef de Brigands]]'' , ''[['Dago]]'' (a ballet in 3 acts, 1819), ''[[De Burger Edelman]]'' (from Moliere), ) | ||
Revision as of 05:24, 2 August 2016
Charles Etienne Boniface (1787 – 1853) was an enormously talented, intelligent and abrasive dramatist, actor, theatre director, dancing instructor, linguist, language teacher, fencing teacher, composer and guitarist, music teacher. (F.C.L. Bosman has his dates as 1788-1854 on p. 54 of his 1928 book.)
Often referred to as C.E. Boniface or simply as Boniface. Over the years he also worked under a number of pseudonyms, especially for his more polemical writing or his efforts at publicity and self-promotion. These include: "Vyfstar of Wraak" *** and (possibly) "Clavigo".
Contents
Biography
Born in Paris on 2 February 1787, the son of a prison warder, he grew up a precocious child who, at "the age of twelve had a grounding in French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Latin, Greek, had written short dramas in the style of Molière, played the guitar and had learned to dance" (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[1])
In 1798 Sir Sidney Smith, who had apparently been helped by Boniface's father to escape French imprisonment, assisted the Boniface family to resettle in the Seychelles, where Boniface enrolled in as a cadet in the Royal Navy. When the Cape Colony was annexed once more by the British, Boniface made his way to Cape Town via Mozambique on board a Portuguese slave ship, arriving on 10 February 1806.
In the period 1807 to 1840 he lived and worked in Cape Town, where - due to his amazing aptitude for languages - he managed to learn enough German, Dutch and English to work as a language and music teacher. He was the first person in the Cape Colony known to have noted down the local music. He would also play an enormous role in the development of journalism, theatre, and Dutch and Afrikaans theatre in particular, in Cape Town. Another key element in his make-up was the dangerous combination of a satiric bent and quick and unforgiving temper, which led to his uncompromising and vicious feuds with a number of Capetonians, most notably with his former friend and colleague J. Suasso de Lima.
In 1844 he fled to Pietermaritzburg, to help start the first newspaper in Natal (De Natalier) and practise as an advocate at law, although it is not known of he was involved in theatre whilst resident there.
Never really financially successful, he died in Durban on 10 December 1853, having committed suicide by taking laudanum.
His contribution to South African theatre and performance
While in Cape Town he founded a French Theatre Company and then became a leading figure in the French/Dutch company Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense. Besides being a fiery journalist, who was the first writer to use Afrikaans for journalistic purposes when he co-founded and edited De Zuid-Afrikaan in Cape Town in 1830 and co-founded and was the first editor of De Natalier in Durban in 1844, he also translated and wrote a number of plays in Dutch, Afrikaans and even English, many which he also produced. He was of a temperamental and somewhat choleric nature, and F.C.L. Bosman (1928, p. 118) claims that he was the first to really make the Cape theatre a cite for political, social and personal vendettas. For a while his feud with De Lima played a cardinal role in firing up his satiric imagination in poetry, journalism and drama, while his societal targets included the many fanatical philanthropic movements of the time.
He produced a number of "firsts", including the first ballet in South Africa (Sappho), which was staged in the Cape, the first South African play in English: Kockincoz, or The Pettifogging Lawyer's Plot (1843) and De Nieuwe Ridderorde of De Temperantisten (also known simply as De Nieuwe Ridderorde or De Temperantisten - 1832), said to be the first play in Afrikaans-Dutch and possibly his best work.
Other works include poetry and the plays The Blamed Reputation, Het beleg en het nemen van Troyen, l’Enragé, Clasius stupidibus bavianus of Het proces om een komedielootjie (or simply Clasius -1834), the stories Bluettes franco-nataliennes and Le Latanier. He also translated and reworked plays by others, including Robert, Chef de Brigands , 'Dago (a ballet in 3 acts, 1819), De Burger Edelman (from Moliere), )
In his polemical writing he used various pseudonyms over the years, including "Vyfstar of Wraak". **
ALL THE PLAYS STILL TO BE EDITED
[TH, JH]
Sources
F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [2]: pp. 5, 8, 44, 50-59, 84-92, 118-145, 163-179, 201, 233-4, 246-7, 257-267, 274-3339, 343-6, 351, 359-375, 392, 441, 452, 488-496, 510.
Mona de Beer, 1995
P.J. du Toit, 1988
Jill Fletcher, 1994;
J.C. Kannemeyer, 1978
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Etienne_Boniface
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